The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1887-11-25
WILD GEESE.
what May Be Daily Seen In Oak ota

For the information and, perhaps
benefit Of sportsmen, says letter from
Harrisburg, Dakota, ! will give fain
description Of what we are daily wit
Messing of the grand armies of th,
strong winged birds whose name head,
this letter. OF the variety known fur.
ther south as wild geese, the ''honk.
ers," as they are called, from theil
peculiar cry when on wing, we see
large numbers. A great many OF them
nest and breed about the small lakes in
our nelghborhood. and people often
take the eggs and hatch them under
domestic birds, either geese or hens.
Besides these there are the brat
smaller, gray goose. and the beautiful
snowy geese. OF these last there seems
to be no limit to numbers. The air Is
almost constantly filled with Their
notes, and one can scarcely look up nj
the sky-which is wonderfully wide
from these highlands-without seeing
nocks of these magnificent birds wheel
ing across it in one direction or anoth.
CT. No mathematics yet invented could
enumerate the hosts that have so far
appeared. Instantaneous photo.
grahpy is the only method by which
any truthful representation can be CIV
en- of their hosts. We rode out day
or two since, to the lake (Wamhuska,
sometim called Stump lake,. The
day was one of the mellow, golden,
bracing. thoroughly enjoyable days that
October sometimes brings even to you
poor jewellers amid the midst and
damps of Indiana, but to us she is Law
ish of such treasures during her entire
reign. All the day and the days before
.--one can not tell for how long-Hocks
of geese, IN countless numbers, were
sailing overhead in ranks and clusters
of ranks, some dark and some snowy
white, with black tippde-wings. They
are congregating about our beautiful
lake. probably making preliminary
arrangements for their southern flight.
The whole blue vault, which showed nc
cloud, was lined in every direction by
ranks OF snowy birds. The afternoon
sun shone full upon their brilliant plum
age. tingng it full golden color, than
which no bird of paradise could be more
dazzling, and the vast numbers on wing
of shining, goldhued hosts. made one
of the finest sights that one can behold
never before saw anything to equal it.
When we come in full view of the lake
where there are several miles of water
in sight, there was another remarkable
surprise for us. If the canopy above
was full of flying birds, the surface o.
glistening water was hundred time.
more so. Along the further shore and
far out from land there were thousands
of geese floating so close together tina
one saw no glimmer of water between
them.
Midway between the shores islands
of geese foated. but appeared, to OBJ
servers on the high banks, like still,
inanimate earth, covered with a fresh
fall of snow. Sportsmen were crouch
ing here and there behind clumps Of
bushes. and every now and then rife
shot echoed along the woodland; but
what were few sportsmen among
such multitudes of birdsP
My neighbour the postmaster, brought
in half dozen geese, the result of two
or three odd half-hours' sport. Another
neighbor took twelve the same day.
One man shot fourteen within thirty
minutes. The flesh of these birds II
excellent, and in this climate can be
kept long time. A party of sports
men are here now from Florida, and
will spend week or more
Two gentlemen from Boston spent
week here shooting. and bagged large
number of ducks and several geese.
They left for home about two weeks
ago. Had they remained till now the
sport would, perhaps, have been more
satisfactory. as the larger birds are fal
more numerous at this time than 2
month earlier. AS it was, however,
these Boston men were so well pleased
with their trip, and with the opportu-
mites for good shooting, that they lett
their canoe here for next years use.
In passing. will just mention that we
have a survey made and stakes set for
a railroad to our burg. which is prom.
ised TO be built next year. In country
where railroad can be built at the rate
of seven miles per day, rs the Manitoba
has been doing the past season between
DEVILS lake and Montana it is easy to
believe that we may no. wait long for
the whistle of the engine. Any good
Hoosier who wants fine sport and
boundess pure air, better than all the
medicines and milk shakes in the coun-
try to set one up in good. sound health,
can lind both right here with Little
trouble.